6 steps to properly wash your hands

Washing your hands is an important step for your health and the health of your community.

According to the CDC, maintaining proper hand hygiene is a simple, cost-effective intervention for reducing the transmission of infectious diseases. The key to washing your hands is to thoroughly clean all surfaces and areas of your hands, fingers, and wrists.

Proper handwashing has decreased respiratory and gastrointestinal infections by up to 23 and 48 percent, respectively. Using soap and water is preferred, but an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can also be effective.

Let’s review the 6 Key Steps to correctly wash your hands, endorsed by both the CDC and the World Health Organization:

Maintaining proper hand hygiene is a simple, cost-effective intervention for reducing the transmission of infectious diseases.

Does it matter what type of soap you use? 

All you truly need to disinfect your hands is plain soap. Contrary to popular belief, antibacterial soaps are not essential, as research indicates they are no more effective at killing germs than regular, everyday soaps.

If you are consistent with good hand hygiene, it is a time-tested and proven way to contribute to our individual, community, and global health.